GECs
Danish Khan to move on from SPNI after shaping its tv and streaming playbook
MUMBAI: Danish Khan is calling time on a long, influential run at Sony Pictures Networks India, marking the end of a decade that helped redraw the map of Indian television and streaming.
Khan, currently business head of Sony LIV and studio next, will stay on until March 31 to ensure continuity, the company said. His exit closes a chapter that blended creative ambition with commercial discipline across broadcast, studios and digital.
At Sony LIV, where he took charge in 2019, Khan led a full-scale reboot—Sony LIV 2.0-and turned the platform into a serious contender in India’s crowded streaming race. Over five years, the service clocked more than five-fold topline growth and a four-times jump in monthly active users, contributing nearly 25 per cent of SPNI’s overall revenue, while keeping profitability firmly on the agenda. The run delivered a slate of cultural and commercial winners, including Scam, Maharani, Rocket Boys, Tabbar, Freedom at Midnight and Shark Tank.
Earlier, as business head of sony entertainment television, Khan oversaw some of Indian TV’s biggest franchises, from The Kapil Sharma Show and Kaun Banega Crorepati to Super Dancer and Superstar Singer, alongside successful fiction titles such as Beyhadh and Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai. He also set up studio next as a pipeline for scalable formats and original IP.
Gaurav Banerjee, managing director and chief executive officer of SPNI, said Khan played a key role in building the network’s television, studio and digital businesses, leaving behind a strong foundation.
Khan described SPNI as central to his professional journey, crediting teams, trust and shared ambition for what the group achieved together.
The company will announce succession plans in due course. Khan departs having proved that in Indian media, scale still matters—but storytelling and strategy matter more.
GECs
Samsung TV Plus launches Kings of Comedy channel
New free FAST channel brings iconic Hindi comedy shows to millions of Samsung Smart TV owners.
MUMBAI: Samsung TV Plus has just turned up the laughter volume and it’s completely free. The leading free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service in India has launched Kings of Comedy, a premium comedy channel featuring some of the country’s most beloved primetime shows. Available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus, the channel delivers back-to-back hits including Comedy Nights with Kapil, Khatra Khatra Khatra, and Comedy Nights Bachao, with no login or subscription required.
The launch marks a milestone for free streaming in India, offering audiences a dedicated comedy destination directly from their Samsung TV home screen. It arrives as Samsung TV Plus India celebrates its 5th anniversary, during which the service has grown its monthly active users by 42 per cent and more than doubled its total viewing hours. The platform now offers over 180 free channels across 14 languages.
Samsung TV Plus India general manager and head of business development Kunal Mehta said, “Comedy is the heartbeat of Hindi entertainment, and Kings of Comedy brings together the shows Indians already love, completely free on their Samsung TV. Our focus remains the same take the content people know and make it effortless to access.”
Globally, Samsung TV Plus has surpassed 100 million monthly active users across more than 4,500 channels, solidifying its position as one of the world’s leading free streaming services.
Kings of Comedy is now available on all compatible Samsung Smart TVs. For viewers seeking non-stop laughter without any cost, this new channel delivers a royal treat proving that sometimes the best entertainment really does come with no strings (or subscriptions) attached.
